Cookies & Similar Technologies Policy
Cookies & Similar Technologies Policy
Cookies and related technologies have several important functions in the operation and management of supermelon. They provide us with insight into how users interact with our Services, and they allow us to offer the best possible experience on our site. In this document, we’ll explain in more detail all the ways in which we use cookies.
A quick note on semantics: Throughout the text, we’ll be referring to supermelon .com as the “Site.” Pattern by supermelon, supermelon Payments, and all of the other services we offer will be referred to collectively as the “Services.” “Cookie Technologies” will be used to mean cookies and similar technologies.
- Cookie Technologies: Definitions and Different Types
- The Ways We Use Cookie Technology
- Cookie Opt-Out Settings and Legitimate Interests in Processing
- How to Learn More: Contact Us
1. Cookie Technologies: Definitions and Different Types
Cookies
First, let’s clarify what we’re talking about when we say “cookies.” Cookies are packets of information sent from a server to the web browser on your computer. These small data files are stored in the cache of your web browser. Their main purpose is to allow your browser to be recognized by a website or third party.
Cookies come in three basic variations. Here they are:
- ● Session cookies: This type of cookie is unique to one specific visit to a website. They’re useful because they allow information to carry over from one webpage to another, without you needing to re-enter it. For example, if you start shopping online and you navigate away to another part of the site, you’ll typically be able to return to your cart and see the items you’ve picked out. This type of cookie has a short shelf life. They will either delete themselves automatically after a brief period of time, or they’ll be deleted as soon as you close your web browser or navigate away from the site.
- ● Persistent cookies: Longer-lived than session cookies, persistent cookies retain some information about your viewing preferences over a much more extended period of time. These are the cookies that permit supermelon to recognize your web browser whenever you navigate to the Site. Unlike session cookies, these cookies typically remain in the browser cache of your desktop or mobile device until you manually delete them. They may also expire and delete themselves after a certain amount of time.
- ● Third-party cookies: These cookies, which are placed by a service or website other than supermelon, are typically persistent cookies, meaning that they’ll be stored until you choose to delete them or until they reach an expiration date (which is set by the third-party). Third-party cookies can serve a variety of purposes, and they may collect information about your online activity in numerous browsing sessions and across multiple sites.
Cookies help to optimize your experience with our Services and to keep supermelon running smoothly. But we understand that not everyone will want their data stored through cookies. If you prefer, you can adjust the browser settings of your desktop or mobile device to accept or reject cookies. You can also fine-tune the way your browser handles third-party cookies.
A description of supermelon principal first party cookies can be found in our Cookies & Similar Technologies Disclosures.
Other Technologies
supermelon utilizes a number of additional technologies that are similar in nature to cookies. These technologies may also be found elsewhere on the web and in mobile applications. To the purpose of maintaining and growing supermelon, we may employ these technologies:
- ● Web beacons: Also called “web pixels,” “tracking pixels,” or “clear GIFs,” these are very small graphics that help site runners understand browsing activity of site visitors. Web beacons have a unique identifier that allows them to track whether specific content has been accessed by a user. They are unobtrusive to the browsing experience and, unlike cookies, they are not stored on a computer hard drive or browser cache.
- ● Social widgets: Social widgets are simply buttons that permit users to engage with social media services while they view a web page or use a mobile app. Widgets are provided and controlled by third-party social media services (like Twitter, Facebook, etc.), and they may provide information about browsing activity to the third party that controls the widget.
- ● UTM codes: These codes can appear in the URL of a site. (A “URL” is a “Uniform Resource Locator” --it’s what appears in the address bar of your browser and starts with “http” or “https”.) They are strings of text that transmit data about online activity and can be used when a user moves from one website or web page to another. The information represented in a UTM code might include the publisher, advertisement, or web page that directed the user to a particular site.
- ● Local storage objects: These are very similar to cookies in that they are data files placed by a website or a mobile app and stored on a web browser. Local storage objects (sometimes referred to as “flash cookies”) are used for a number of possible purposes, including storing a history of usage, remembering user preferences, or maintaining settings for a specific app or website.
2. The Ways We Use Cookie Technology
To ensure the best possible experience for our users, we use Cookie Technologies in a number of ways. Primarily, we use them to understand what you, as a supermelon user, are interested in purchasing, to recognize when you are logged in, and to customize your experience of our Services.
The following explanation details all the specific ways in which supermelon utilizes Cookie Technologies.
Security and Authentication (Strictly Necessary)
While some aspects of Cookie Technologies can be customized based on your preferences, certain functions are crucial to maintaining the safety, security, and integrity of the Site. These necessary functions include user authentication and the process of logging into supermelon, the storage of permissions and licenses that you as a supermelon user have granted, and the use of member data to ensure that supermelon transactions are secure for buyers and sellers.
Account and User Preferences
One of the keys uses of Cookie Technologies is to recognize your browser and remember your account preferences, such as your preferred language, your country, and other settings that affect how supermelon appears to you. These technologies enable you to stay logged in when you return to the supermelon site and allow you to be presented with customized content that is relevant to your online activity.
Social Networks
supermelon features a number of ways for users to engage with third-party social networks while using our Services. This may include logging into your social network accounts, sharing content via social networks, and other unique features available through the social network itself. It’s important to note that the policies of these technologies are defined by the third-party social networks. To change your privacy settings related to these technologies, you’ll need to change your preferences with the relevant social networks.
Note that we may work with social networks, and the social networks may work with you, for analytics purposes, marketing purposes, or both. (We’ll cover this in more detail in the next section.) Again, in order to manage your privacy settings in regard to this information, you’ll need to change your preferences via your account with the social network in question.
Performance and Analytics
Cookie Technologies allow us to keep the Services running at optimum performance. These technologies capture performance data, including functionality and speed (among other metrics), for the purpose of maintaining and improving our site and mobile apps. Bugs are detected and investigated with the support of Cookie Technologies. We also use Cookie Technologies to better understand how our users engage with our Services so that we can improve each user’s individual experience.
In order to gain insight into how our visitors are using our platform, the supermelon site and app utilize Google Analytics. Data from Google Analytics, in combination with first-party data obtained by supermelon _ and third-party cookies (from Google or another entity), may be used for some advertising features, like retargeting. We’ll cover these features in more depth in the next section.
It is possible for you to opt out of the Google Analytics Advertising Features. If you would like to do so, please refer to the Opt-Out section, located at the end of this document. Additional information about Google Analytics is provided in this Google guide.
Marketing Services
In order to learn about the ads that you see and engage with on the supermelon site, our affiliated sites, and our apps, we collaborate with a number of third-party service providers. These providers may use Cookie Technologies to collect data and to show you targeted ads both on and off the supermelon platform. The technologies utilized by our partners may include:
- ● Frequency capping: This functionality puts a cap on the number of times that a specific ad will be displayed on a user’s desktop browser or mobile device.
- ● Attribution tracking: This allows our partners to determine which marketing source or advertisement referred a user to the supermelon site. It is also used to understand which marketing source was the cause of a specific action, such as a visit to a web page or a purchase.
- ● Remarketing/retargeting: Through retargeting, our partners may show relevant, customized ads based on users’ previous activity on supermelon.
- ● Audience targeting: Audience targeting is the practice of tailoring ads to a particular audience that has been segmented by shared demographics (known or inferred).
- ● Cross-device recognition: This functionality allows users to be recognized across numerous devices, mobile or desktop, and multiple browsers.
While our third-party partners may collect and transmit data such as cross-device information, interest categories, or demographic information, this data will not identify you personally. The data may come from multiple sources and may be used by supermelon to display relevant ads as well as for analytical purposes unrelated to marketing.
The technologies used by our partners will allow them to recognize your desktop browser or mobile device using cookie data, device ID, or IP address. Our partners will not receive access to other parts of your personal data held by supermelon. Nonetheless, over time, the aforementioned technologies may allow third-party partners or supermelon __ to recognize you when you are using a specific device, or across multiple devices.
All of our third-party partners must follow relevant self-regulatory programs, applicable laws, and our own data protection regulations (where applicable). It is important to note that our partners have their own policies and practices regarding privacy and personal data, and that supermelon has no control over the actions of third parties. As part of our commitment to transparency, we adhere to the Digital Advertising Alliance's Self-Regulatory Principles for Online Behavioral Advertising.
To find more information about supermelon __’s use of Cookie Technologies from third-party providers, please refer to our Cookies & Similar Technologies Disclosures. This document also provides important information about the privacy policies and user preferences for controlling privacy with each respective third party.
3. Cookie Opt-Out Settings and Legitimate Interests in Processing
Due to your agreement with supermelon, we have a contractual obligation to perform the services requested by you. Some Cookie Technologies are necessary in order to meet these contractual obligations and to ensure that supermelon functions as intended. These include the functions strictly necessary to the service noted above.
By choosing to use our Services after having been notified of our use of Cookie Technologies in the ways described in this policy, and, in applicable jurisdictions, through notice and unambiguous acknowledgement of your consent, you agree to such use.
Opt-in and Opt-out on Browsers
One of the ways you can customize your cookie settings is by changing your preferences through your web browser. (This applies only if you are accessing supermelon via a browser, not an app.) The exact process for adjusting your cookie preferences varies somewhat between browsers. Generally, you’ll find the settings located in the “Preferences” or “Options” menu.
Below, we’ve provided links with additional information about changing the cookie preferences on a number of popular web browsers. These are the browsers that supermelon supports.
Google Analytics Opt-out
If you want to opt out of Google Analytics Advertising Features, you can do so through Google Ad Settings (or Google Ad Settings for mobile apps). You may also do so through any other available means, such as the NAI’s consumer opt-out.
Additionally, you may use the Google-provided Google Analytics opt-out plug-in, available for the web.
Third-Party Tools
There are a number of third-party developers offering apps and browser plug-ins designed to limit, block, or provide information on various kinds of cookie technologies. Examples of these privacy-enhancing plug-ins include Ghostery and AdBlock Plus. Please note that we’re not able to guarantee the efficacy or safety of any specific third-party products.
4. How to Learn More: Contact Us
Our representatives would be happy to answer any questions you may have about Cookie Technologies or about other aspects of our Services. Please feel free to reach out to us through our Contact page.